Canada announces sanctions on Iran
Canada reacting to Iranian violations like other countries did, Canadian foreign minister says
Canada announced Tuesday a new round of economic sanctions against Iran aimed at dissuading the Tehran government from pursuing the development of nuclear weapons.
Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said Canada was following the United Nations' lead.
The UN Security Council approved a resolution two weeks ago to strengthen sanctions and called on individual countries and blocs of nations to expand their own sanctions regimes against Iranian individuals and organizations.
The US House and Senate reached a deal on new round of economic sanctions against Iran on Monday.
"We have reached the limit of what is acceptable, and therefore Canada is reacting as other countries are by imposing sanctions," Cannon said.
Cannon said Iran continues to violate its international obligations and is refusing to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the international nuclear watchdog agency.
The new sanctions will further limit Iran's access to uranium, nuclear materials and technology.
Canada will use the presidency of the G-8 summit in Canada this week to press Iran on its nuclear program, Cannon said. The G-8 groups the US, Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.
Ottawa said the sanctions are in no way intended to harm the Iranian people.
